1. Students should understand that the Congress of Vienna and the conservative settlement (restoration of legitimate, old order leaders) that prevailed was a reaction to the Napoleonic conquest. Napoleon, though a ruthless autocrat spread many revolutionary values and because he "occupied" foreign lands stirred up "nationalism". Students should also understand that according to Metternich, the basis for European harmony rested on the repression of nationalism and the pursuit of continental balance of power. However, the European support for the Greek revolt as well as the Britain's support of the Monroe Doctrine reveal "reason of state" matters sometimes eclipse these notions of conservatism or legitimacy.
2. Students should understand, intellectuals of the time responded to the European Zeitgeist of the early 19th century with different perspectives: Edmund Burke argued for "conservatism" b/c he argued that a society has a duty to hand off to the next generation what was given to them. He also saw how violent and unstable revolutionary France was from 1789-1812. Other intellectuals such as Louis Blanc argued for gov't sponsored utopian socialism (not Marxism). Still others provided arguments against the gov't interference: Thomas Malthus provided an argument that supports "nature" as the source underneath misery and poverty. Interference only exasperates the issue. Finally, John Stewart Mill (utilitarianism) offered up arguments to expand liberalism; expand suffrage, gender equity, freedom of expression...
3. Students should understand that that Romanticism can be understood as a reaction against the Enlightenment project. Certainly they considered the tumultous nature of the French Revolution (think 2nd of radical phase). Its major themes: man overcome by nature, the unknowable, emotion, mystery, suspicion of science, emphasis on the masses rather than individual...
4. Students should understand that despite the popularity of conservatism in the aftermath of the COV, political revolutions broke out in 1830 and 1848. The issues? untamed liberalism, nationalism. In Britain, revolution did not break out due to a slow and steady parliament that yielded public policies in support of the expansion of suffrage and other liberal causes.
Essential Questions
1. What were the main intellectual and practical themes that played out at the Congress of Vienna?
2. How did the French Revolution and Industrial Revolution impact the intellectual community in the early 19th Century?
3. Why were Romantics disillusioned with the promise of the Enlightenment project?
4. What were the causes of the various revolutions in1830 and 1848? How was the story in Great Britain different?
Primary Sources: historyteacher.net
Written Source # 1: Metternich's perception of Czar Alexander I as written in his memoirs.
Context: COV---in search of a settlement after the Fall of Napoleon. I put some analytical comments in red below.
"The Emperor of Russia has come to Vienna, in the first place to be admired (which is always the principal thing in his thoughts), and next to direct personally the important arrangements which should fix the boundaries and future position of the many states who claim their share of the immense spoil which is placed at the disposal of the Allies, by their success against the common enemy. The three principal objects of the Emperor Alexander were: first, to take possession for ever of the whole, or almost the whole, of the Duchy of Warsaw, with the exception of some small portions, which he would give to the two neighboring powers. 2nd, to prevent Austria from profiting too much by the advantages of her new position;;[ Metternich seems to have some real concerns over the territorial ambitions of the Czar] 3rd, to enrich Prussia as much as possible, not only to compensate her for her ancient Polish provinces, which he had carried away from her by surprise, and which he retained because it pleased him to do so, but also to make her a useful and powerful ally, [reason of state-making allies to create a safe "balance". the only one on whom he could rely in the future. Such were the real objects he had in view; the ostensible object was to mingle in all the affairs of Europe, and to pass as the arbiter of their destinies."[Metternich was pushing for this role...was this a source of tension?
Source # 2 (visual): history.hanover.edu Liberty Leading the People, Eugene Delacroix, 1830 Big Romantic Ideas playing Out? Liberalism, nationalism, justice are on the March in the context of the 1830 French Revolution. Revolution is a noble, moral act. Themes of determination, nationalism, courage, and liberty are romanticized. A Revolution of the Masses over the elites!
Map: Source of Map---http://www.zonu.com Congress of Vienna Settlement: Big Themes...Balance of Power / Security. How did they do it? 1. Repressing nationalism. 2. Creation of allies. 3. Balancing gains; when Russia picked up land on her Western border, so did the Prussians and Austrians. 4. Keeping France in a respectable form after Napoleon (she's part of the balance). 5. Keeping Germans fragmented in this political construct called the "German Confederation".
10 Terms you need to know!
Congress of Vienna
July Revolution
Revolutions of 1848
Romanticism
Metternich
Conservatism
Liberalism
Utopian Socialism
Legitimacy
Balance of Power
Facebook ID: Nicholas I http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php?fcode=a46f04f5a&f=100002341112278#!/
Big Ideas:
1. Students should understand that the Congress of Vienna and the conservative settlement (restoration of legitimate, old order leaders) that prevailed was a reaction to the Napoleonic conquest. Napoleon, though a ruthless autocrat spread many revolutionary values and because he "occupied" foreign lands stirred up "nationalism". Students should also understand that according to Metternich, the basis for European harmony rested on the repression of nationalism and the pursuit of continental balance of power. However, the European support for the Greek revolt as well as the Britain's support of the Monroe Doctrine reveal "reason of state" matters sometimes eclipse these notions of conservatism or legitimacy.
2. Students should understand, intellectuals of the time responded to the European Zeitgeist of the early 19th century with different perspectives: Edmund Burke argued for "conservatism" b/c he argued that a society has a duty to hand off to the next generation what was given to them. He also saw how violent and unstable revolutionary France was from 1789-1812. Other intellectuals such as Louis Blanc argued for gov't sponsored utopian socialism (not Marxism). Still others provided arguments against the gov't interference: Thomas Malthus provided an argument that supports "nature" as the source underneath misery and poverty. Interference only exasperates the issue. Finally, John Stewart Mill (utilitarianism) offered up arguments to expand liberalism; expand suffrage, gender equity, freedom of expression...
3. Students should understand that that Romanticism can be understood as a reaction against the Enlightenment project. Certainly they considered the tumultous nature of the French Revolution (think 2nd of radical phase). Its major themes: man overcome by nature, the unknowable, emotion, mystery, suspicion of science, emphasis on the masses rather than individual...
4. Students should understand that despite the popularity of conservatism in the aftermath of the COV, political revolutions broke out in 1830 and 1848. The issues? untamed liberalism, nationalism. In Britain, revolution did not break out due to a slow and steady parliament that yielded public policies in support of the expansion of suffrage and other liberal causes.
Essential Questions
1. What were the main intellectual and practical themes that played out at the Congress of Vienna?
2. How did the French Revolution and Industrial Revolution impact the intellectual community in the early 19th Century?
3. Why were Romantics disillusioned with the promise of the Enlightenment project?
4. What were the causes of the various revolutions in1830 and 1848? How was the story in Great Britain different?
Primary Sources: historyteacher.net
Written Source # 1: Metternich's perception of Czar Alexander I as written in his memoirs.
Context: COV---in search of a settlement after the Fall of Napoleon. I put some analytical comments in red below.
"The Emperor of Russia has come to Vienna, in the first place to be admired (which is always the principal thing in his thoughts), and next to direct personally the important arrangements which should fix the boundaries and future position of the many states who claim their share of the immense spoil which is placed at the disposal of the Allies, by their success against the common enemy. The three principal objects of the Emperor Alexander were: first, to take possession for ever of the whole, or almost the whole, of the Duchy of Warsaw, with the exception of some small portions, which he would give to the two neighboring powers. 2nd, to prevent Austria from profiting too much by the advantages of her new position;;[ Metternich seems to have some real concerns over the territorial ambitions of the Czar] 3rd, to enrich Prussia as much as possible, not only to compensate her for her ancient Polish provinces, which he had carried away from her by surprise, and which he retained because it pleased him to do so, but also to make her a useful and powerful ally, [reason of state-making allies to create a safe "balance". the only one on whom he could rely in the future. Such were the real objects he had in view; the ostensible object was to mingle in all the affairs of Europe, and to pass as the arbiter of their destinies."[Metternich was pushing for this role...was this a source of tension?
Source # 2 (visual):
history.hanover.edu
Liberty Leading the People, Eugene Delacroix, 1830
Big Romantic Ideas playing Out? Liberalism, nationalism, justice are on the March in the context of the 1830 French Revolution. Revolution is a noble, moral act. Themes of determination, nationalism, courage, and liberty are romanticized. A Revolution of the Masses over the elites!
Map: Source of Map---http://www.zonu.com
Congress of Vienna Settlement: Big Themes...Balance of Power / Security. How did they do it? 1. Repressing nationalism. 2. Creation of allies. 3. Balancing gains; when Russia picked up land on her Western border, so did the Prussians and Austrians. 4. Keeping France in a respectable form after Napoleon (she's part of the balance). 5. Keeping Germans fragmented in this political construct called the "German Confederation".
10 Terms you need to know!
Congress of Vienna
July Revolution
Revolutions of 1848
Romanticism
Metternich
Conservatism
Liberalism
Utopian Socialism
Legitimacy
Balance of Power
1 Assessment